Hemmer for sewing-machines



(ModeL) -A. JOHNSTON.

HEMMER FOR SEWING MAGHINES. No. 455,535; Patented July 7,1891.

e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' otal connection.

ALLEN JOHNSTON, OF OTTUMIVA, IQWVA.

HEMMER FOR SEWING-MACHINES SIECIFIGAT ION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 455.535, dated July 7, 1891. Application filed March 26,1891. $erialNo. 386,537. (Model.)

10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, a resident of Ottumwa, county oflVapello, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and usefnl Improvementin Hemmers and Binders, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification.

The present invention relates to the construction of a certain class ofsewing-machine attachments whose distinguishing feature is ascroll infront of the needle for folding over the edge of the fabric to form ahem or for lapping over said edge a separate strip' for binding. Suchattachments are known as hemmers and binders.

One object of this invention is to form the fold of the hem or bindingas close as possible to the needle, so as to avoid the tendency of thegoods to unfold or get out of shape before the edge is stitched.

Another object is to make the attachment more compact and to avoid thesoldering or riveting of the scroll to the presser-foot, as heretofore,thereby lessening the cost of manufacture.

These objects are attained by forming the foot and scroll of one pieceof sheet metal of uniform thickness, the scroll portion being thusbrought immediatelyin front of the needle-hole. The core by which thegoods are guided into the scroll, instead of being made a part of thelatter, as heretofore, is carried by a separate stem, whereby a betterguiding action is secured.

A further improvement consists in connecting the combined foot andscroll to the clamping device or part which is attached to thepresser-bar of the sewing-machine by a piv- The object of thisimprovement is that the operator, aft-er having. secured the clampingdevice to the presser-bar, can adjust the attachment accurately, so thatthe needle will passthrough the center of the needle-hole. Thisarrangement provides for slight irregularities which are incident to themanufacture of such attachments. In connection with such pivotalconnection a clamping devicesuch as a screw or nutis provided to fastenthe adjustable part in the pos'ition to which it is set.

The details of construction of the attachments are varied somewhat forsewing-machines of different manufacture; but such variations do notaifect the essential features of construction, which are in substancethe same for all.

In the accompanying drawings, which form partof this specification, Ihave shown several forms of hemmers and binders con and Fig. V across-section, of a hemmer as constructed for 2. Singer machine.

The foot portion of the attachment maybe considered as consistingof twoparts-namely,

the foot proper, or that portion which holds the work against the feed,which portion is marked a on the drawings, and the clamping part b,which serves to attach the device to thepresser-bar of the machine.

The foot a, as'shown in all the figures, is formed of a strip of steelor other metal and provided with the needle-hole c. Directly in front ofthis hole the strip of which the foot is formed is bent up from thework-plate and then folded laterally upon itself, forming the scroll d,which is of the form common in hemmers and binders. By thus forming thefoot and scroll in one piece not only are the amount of material and thework of construction lessened, but the fold in the cloth is made closeto the needle and stitched before it can possibly be displaced.

The core 6 of the hemmer, Figs. I and IV, which is usuallyfor'med on theedge of the attached to the upper side of the foot (1. The

binder. shown in Fig. III has the scroll d formed integral with the foota; but the core 6' extends nearly the, full length of the scroll and isformed of a plate bent over to receive and guide the edge of the mainpiece of goods, while the binding-strip passes between it and thescroll, as is Well understood.

In Figs I, II, and III the clamping part I) is a block or plate whichrests upon the foot portion and is adapted for attachment to thepresser-bar of a Wheeler 85 Wilson machine in the usual way. Thisclamping part is pivoted upon a screw-pin 5 attached to thefoot part ain the rear of the needle-hole, and has its upper end screw-threaded forem gagement of clamping-nut It. By tightening nut h the parts a and bcan be rigidly held together; but when the nut is loose the part a canbe turned to one side or the other, as may be necessary to secure anaccurate adjustment.

In the hemmer shown in Figs. IV and V the clamping part b is a blockhaving a groove h on one side to fit over the end of the presser-bar.The foot ctis pivoted to the part b at l. The foot has a lip m, whichprojects up into a'chamber in the under side of block 1) between the twoset-screws n n. When the desired adjustment is obtained, these screwsare tightened against lip m and hold the foot and scroll firmly inplace.

The mode of using the improved hemmer or hinder will be readilyunderstood. The operator first attaches the clamping part to thepresser-bar in the usual ,Way, and then turns the scroll and footportion to the right or left until he brings the needle-hole directlyunder the point of the needle, and finally turns the proper fasteningscrew or nut until the foot and clamping part are firmly connectedtogether. The cloth is then inserted and the hemming or binding is donein the usual well-known manner.

It is obvious upon perusal of the foregoing description thatmodifications can be made in details of construction without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and thatthe improvements may be usedseparately, if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a hemmer or binder for sewing-machines,the combination of the foot and scroll formed of a single piece of sheetmetal bent upward from a point immediately in front of the needle-holein the foot portion and folded under upon itself to form the scroll,whereby the fold is formed directly in front of the needle andimmediately stitched, and the core for guiding the goods into thescroll, substantially as described.

2. Ahemmer or binder comprising in combination a scroll and footportion, a clamp ing part or support. to which the scroll and footportion is attached by a pivotal connection, and fastening means, suchas a screw or nut, for securing it in position when adjusted,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof'two subscribing Witnesses.

' ALLEN JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

A. G. HARRoW, Gno. F. HALL.

